Search Hammond Death Records

Hammond death records are managed by the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court, with an important restriction: birth and death certificates can only be requested at the main office in Amite, not at the Hammond branch office. Anyone in Hammond seeking a certified death certificate must make the drive to Amite, or pursue older records through the Louisiana Vital Records Registry or the Louisiana State Archives.

Hammond Death Records - Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court (Amite Office)

Hammond has no city-level vital records office. Death records for Hammond residents are held by the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court. The key thing to know: birth and death certificates are ONLY issued at the main office in Amite. The Hammond branch office of the clerk does not process vital records requests. If you go to the Hammond branch thinking you can pick up a death certificate there, you will be turned away and directed to Amite.

Amite is about 30 miles north of Hammond. That is a real drive, but it is the only option for getting a certified death certificate from the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk for deaths from 2012 forward. Plan accordingly and call ahead to confirm current hours before you go.

The Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court website has current information on fees, office hours, and services available at both the Amite and Hammond locations.

The Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court in Amite is the only location that issues death certificates for Hammond and other Tangipahoa Parish communities -- the Hammond branch does not handle vital records.

Hammond Death Records - Why You Must Go to Amite

This is one of the more common sources of confusion for Hammond residents. The city of Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish and is closer to most residents than Amite, the parish seat. The Tangipahoa Parish Clerk does have an office in Hammond. But vital records -- birth certificates and death certificates -- are only handled at the main courthouse in Amite.

There is no workaround for this. The state's vital records system is maintained at the parish clerk's main office. The Hammond branch has other services, including land records, e-recording, and some public records access through their eLand Records system. But if you need a death certificate, you need to go to Amite.

If the drive to Amite is a problem, consider whether the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans might be a better option for your situation -- especially if the death occurred before 2012. The state office at $7 per copy processes walk-in requests during regular hours.

Hammond Death Records - Who Qualifies to Request

Louisiana restricts access to death records. Under R.S. 40:41, death records are confidential for 50 years from the year of death. Only people with a qualifying family relationship to the deceased can get a certified copy during that period.

The list of eligible requestors includes the surviving spouse (with a marriage certificate), adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal guardians with a court-issued custody judgment, named insurance beneficiaries, and authorized succession representatives. A notarized letter does not substitute for a court judgment when it comes to proving legal guardianship.

Bring a valid photo ID to the Amite office. Bring any supporting documents that prove your relationship to the deceased -- a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order, depending on your situation. The Tangipahoa Parish Clerk staff will review your documents before issuing the certificate. Call (985) 748-4146 if you have questions about what to bring before making the trip to Amite.

Pre-2012 Hammond Death Records - Louisiana Vital Records

The Tangipahoa Parish Clerk only holds death records from July 2012 forward. For deaths before that date, you need to contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, which is the state-level office under the Louisiana Department of Health. The state holds death records going back to 1914.

Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. Walk-in service is faster. VitalChek at vitalchek.com or (877) 605-8562 is the state's authorized online ordering partner and can process requests faster, though a service fee applies on top of the $7 state fee.

Historical Hammond Death Records - Louisiana State Archives

For deaths that happened more than 50 years ago, the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds the statewide death record collection from 1911 through 1974. Once the 50-year confidentiality window under R.S. 40:41 expires, those records are open to anyone.

The Archives has a free online vital records index. Use it before making the trip to Baton Rouge to confirm that the record you need exists. The search covers a three-year window around the death year, which can help if you are unsure of the exact date.

Louisiana Laws That Apply to Hammond Death Records

The same three statutes apply to Hammond death records as to every other community in Louisiana. R.S. 40:32 defines vital records. R.S. 40:40 sets the fee structure -- $26 at the parish clerk level, $7 at the state vital records office. R.S. 40:41 closes records for 50 years and makes it a criminal offense to provide false information to get a death certificate. Penalties reach up to $10,000 in fines and up to five years in prison.

Tangipahoa Parish - Death Records for Hammond

All Hammond death records are under the jurisdiction of Tangipahoa Parish. The parish page has complete information on the clerk's office in Amite, fees, procedures, and resources for requesting death certificates in Tangipahoa Parish.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying Louisiana cities near Hammond with pages on this site:

• Slidell
• LaPlace
• Central